Game.



R. B. MESSENGER.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1915.

Patented Dec; 28, 1915.

ROY B. MESSENGER, OF POMEROY, WASHINGTON.

GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2%,15315.

Application filed July 10, 1915. Serial No. 39,078.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, Roy B. llflnssmvenn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pomeroy, in the county of Garfield and State of "Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My present invention relates to new and useful improvements in games and has particular reference to an improved game of the type embodying a playing board or field, and a spinning block, wherein the playing pawn is initially placed and from which it is subsequently discharged on to the playing field, through the rotation or spinning of the spinning block.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide game of the character above stated, which is designed in such mannor as to make it capable of use in playing a large and varied number of games.

The above, and other incidental objects of a similar nature, which will be hereinafter more specifically treated, are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claim which is appended hereto and forms part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein there has been illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2 is a section taken diametrically through the playing board, on the line 22, of Fig. 1; 8 is a detail perspective view of the spinning block.

As disclosed in Fig. 1,.the apparatus for playing the present game includes broadly a playing board A, and a spinning block or top B. The playing-aboard A is preferably formed from a solid block of wood of rectangular shape. While wood is preferably employed, it is obvious that a composition or equivalent material may be substituted therefor, without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The playing field is defined by an outer circle 10 which is described from the center of the playing board and is of a diameter slightly less than the width of the board A.

second or inner circle, concentric to the outer circle, is marked upon the playing field, as indicated at 11. Frach of these circles may be painted or otherwise indicated upon the playing field.

The annual space defined by these two circles is divided into number of compartments or stalls, which as shown in Fig. 1, are preferably thirty-six in number, although a greater or less number of stalls may obviously be provided, if desired. The different stalls are defined by the radial partitions disclosed in Fig. 1. These partitions may be formed of sheet metal, to produce the outwardly diverging walls or portions indicated at 12 and 13, in Fig. 1 or may be formed from wedge-shaped blocks of wood, rubberoid or any suitable composition. It is new to be observed that the upper face of the block A is chamfered so that its central portion partakes of the nature of a cone, on the apex of which is seated the top B. Thus the central portion of the playing field inclines in all directions, toward the annular series of stalls or compartments, so that when the marble or other pawn is released from the top, it will slide by gravity down the conical portion and into one of the stalls. The partitions which define the stalls are of such height that their upper edges lie flush with the upper face of the marginal portion of the block A.

The spinning bloclr or top heretofore designated by the numeral B, is preferably formed from a solid block of wood, which is journaled upon a vertical central axle 15, which member rises from the apex of the conical portion of the playing field. The upper face of the top or block is provided with a segmental groove 16, which is provided with indentations or shallow recesses 17, and the upper end of which leads into a serpentine passage or bore 18, which is formed in the top. The lower end of this serpentine bore opens through the side of the top and at the lower terminal thereof, as in Fig.

It will now be readily apparent, particularly upon reference to Fig. 1, that a marble, ball hearing or equivalent pawn may be placed within the recess 17, so that it will normally be held against movement through the groove 16. If the top is spun in the well known manner, the pawn will be dislodged by centrifugal action and also caused to move through the groove 16. The pawn will then pass down through the bore 18 and exit from the lower end of the top on to the conical portion of the playing held at the apex thereof. In order that the pawn may not freely enter the dili'erent stalls, each stall is guarded by a pin 19. These pins 19 are arranged in an annular series and are circumferentially spaced so that one pin is disposed in front of each stall.

A finger piece indicated at 20 is irovided for the upper end of the top so that this member may be easily spun. in order that the top may freely rotate, it has been round desirable in practice, to inter-pose an annular series of ball bearings between the bottom of the top and the central portion of the block A, as indicated at 21.

The actual construction and arrangement of the several parts 01'. the game apparatus being thus disclosed, it now remains to describe the manner in which the games are played and the rules governing the use of the apparatus. One game which may be played with the present board, is that which may appropriatelybe called Presidents In this game the numera accon'ipanying each stall with the exception of those numbered 2, 6, 8, 10, 13 and 20, represent a President of the United States. It the spinner is able, within a given range oi. time, to name the year in which the President tool; oliice, he scores the number of points equal to the product of the number accompanying the stall in which the pawn has lodged, by four. If the spinner can accurately state the number of years the President was in cities he may also add to his score the product of the number of the stall and five. The stalls 6 and 8 are blanks, which mean that the player gains nothing when his pawn lodges in. either one of them. Stalls .2 and 13 represent a fine, where the play: from his score 2X13 or my be. Stalls l and are rewards, for the player whose pawn lodges in either one of them may add to his score, the product of Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each,

as the case the numeral 10 or 20, as the case may be, by four. One thousand points may constitute the game, although any other appropriate number may be adapted. @bviously, the above rules are subject to many modifications for the factors by'which the penalty and reward stalls are multiplied, may be changed at will.

In reduction to practice, it has been found that the form of this invention illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most cllicient and practical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of this device will necessarily vary, it is desirable to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details oi construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may b resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention,

defined by the appended claim.

lVhat is claimed, is

A gameboard including a block having an annular series of stalls opening toward the center of the block, a spinning top rotatably nounted upon the center of the block, a pin centrally arranged before the entrance of each stall, the surrace of the blocl: between the top and the pins being free and iuiobstructed, said top having a segmental groove in its upper face provided with shallow recesses, said top being further provided with serpentine bore, opening at its upper end into the groove, whereby a pawn may be placed in the groove and upon rotation ofthe top be discharged through the bore and out the lower end of the top on to the playing board, whereon it may roll into one of the stalls.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature in the presence of two witnesse ROY l3. MESSENGER. Witnesses A. E. Bronson, J. H. BROCKMAN.

by addres ng; the geinmissioncr of Patents,

"Washington, D. G. 

